Helping regrow muscle and bone after severe lower leg injuries
Regenerative engineering for complex extremity trauma
This project uses tiny patterned scaffolds plus exercise to help people with serious lower-leg injuries regrow muscle and bone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249553 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are creating nanoscale, fiber-like scaffolds that mimic muscle structure to guide how cells grow and heal. They combine these patterned materials with physical activity in laboratory models to encourage muscle regrowth, nerve reconnection, and blood-vessel formation. The team will measure how improved muscle healing influences nearby bone repair after open fractures. Findings will be used to design approaches that coordinate both muscle and bone regeneration for complex limb injuries.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future candidates would be people with complex lower-extremity injuries that involve both muscle loss and open bone fractures of the leg.
Not a fit: People with minor isolated injuries, or those with medical conditions that severely limit healing (for example uncontrolled vascular disease or advanced diabetes), may not benefit from these regenerative approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to treatments that restore both muscle and bone after limb-threatening injuries, reducing the need for repeated surgeries and improving function.
How similar studies have performed: Related approaches have helped regenerate large muscle injuries and re-innervation in mice, but applying those methods to coordinated bone and muscle repair is newer.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nakayama, Karina — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Nakayama, Karina
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.